MONTEREY, Tenn. (WSMV) – Several hundred workers at Perdue Farms will soon be without a job after the company announced on Thursday it is closing the Putnam County facility.

Once one of the leading poultry producers in the country, Perdue Farms is citing “changes in market demand” as one of the reasons it is closing the processing plant in Monterey, Tennessee.

According to Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter, 433 people will affected by the closure.

“The plant has been a part of Monterey and Putnam County’s economy for many years, Mayor Porter said. “We will be working closely with Monterey officials and our Chamber of Commerce to do everything we can to assist the workers during this difficult time.”

Perdue Farms informed the city of the impending closure in an email on Thursday, that said the company is continuing to focus on improvements and modernizing its supply chain to meet demands.

“Changes in market demand and how the company produces and supplies its products have impacted the Monterey facility in recent years,” an executive with Perdue explained. “Addressing these challenges would require substantial additional investments to maintain operations. This was difficult news for our associates, and please know a decision like this is something we take very seriously, and one that was not made lightly. We are committed to doing everything we can to help our associates through this transition.”

Mayor Porter said the county’s Workforce Strike Team will be helping the workers find new jobs.

Copyright 2025 WSMV. All rights reserved.